Edea: Hero Summoning Conspiracy 141 Freedom

H prefecture prison, a large facility that used to be a place that housed a lot of prisoners from the wars many decades ago. In this day and age, this place housed the criminals that have committed different crimes.

"Mail!" one of the prisoners that was entrusted with handing mail over to the other inmates made rounds. There was one cell that he hesitated to go to and that was in the farthest corner of the block.

This specific cell contained the man who was supposed to have been executed long ago but due to some technicality with a number of his cases, he ended up getting sentenced to a life imprisonment instead. He was caught after getting wounded after an unexpected retaliation from one of his victims that led to the survival of the witness that caused him to almost be executed.

"T-there is some mail for you again Shiriharu Kirsan…" he stuttered more as the man turned around with a threatening presence.

Shiriharu Kira didn't usually get any contact from the outside world because everyone who knew him made sure to deny any connection towards him after he was caught. He recently started getting strange letters that contained two kinds of notes.

One was supposedly a report on an appeal to his case that he never had the intention to pursue because of after he had been condemned by the public, he found no chance to overturn his situation because he had offended a figure that had both power and influence. The second note however, contained instructions that wanted to confirm if he had not lost his will after being locked up for so long.

Since he had no idea who was trying to contact him, there were specific instructions written in these notes that would indicate his reply. Kira figured out that whoever was trying to contact him had someone observing him from inside the prison. He couldn't tell if it was another prisoner like himself or one of the guards that were looking over them.

He decided to humor whoever it was that was trying to contact him because although he may have decided not to file any appeals to his case, he never intended to stay locked up in this place if he could help it.

Shiriharu Kira's response of course was rewarded in the span of just a few days in which he realized that whoever it was that had contacted him was quite serious. He ate the small notes that were attached to the progress reports so that there wouldn't be anyone that found them after he had learned that whoever this person was, their goal was simple; they wanted to give him back his freedom.

[Enjoy your pudding. See you on the other side]

This was the very last note he received inside the prison. He felt extremely suspicious about this because he still wasn't sure of the person or people who were trying to get in touch with him were really on his side or not. He had a lot of victims and was probably the best serial killer in his generation. He both had skills in killing and loved the feeling of blood on his skin.

"(Well whatever. Might as well take this chance rather than rotting inside this place. At least in hell, I would have the chance to bathe in my own blood at least.)" he grinned before eating the pudding he was given whole. Moments later, he felt his body convulsing and he had lost consciousness.

Kira wasn't aware how much time had passed but he woke up because of the pain his head was in after the bright sunlight that passed through the gap of the curtains landed on his eyelids. He felt extremely sluggish like he had been in bed for a couple of days.

"(Huh? Curtains? Sunlight?)" his eyes opened wide and immediately sat up to find himself inside a small room that looked like an apartment.

He quickly opened the curtains and couldn't help but think that he was in a dream. Shiriharu Kira was still inside the H prefecture but he was no longer in prison. His gamble had paid off and he was somewhere in the city.

It didn't take long for him to come back to his senses as he closed the curtains once more. He was still someone who was just recently behind bars. He still didn't have any information on how he got out of prison nor did he know where he was right now. Kira immediately scanned the room he was in and immediately found what seemed to be the keys to this place along with an envelope that contained a few things.

"(Identification, money and a note…)" He found the basic means to survive for the time being. There were even used clothes that were actually his size in the closet. He couldn't help but wonder who in the world helped him get out and what was their purpose in going though all that trouble for a killer like him? He turned to the folded note as it was his only clue.

[Welcome back to the outside world. I'm sure you are wondering why you were freed but we'll save that for later. There would be a time where we can meet each other so enjoy your new lease on life as much as you want. Let's just say that I wanted to help another person with similar interests and it wouldn't hurt to have you owe me one.

I've taken care of the basic things you would need to rejoin society. It is up to you now on how you wish to proceed. Don't let this debt stop you from doing your work. I only ask that you be extremely careful with how you do things because even I would not be able to help you once more if you are caught again. -K ]

"A person with similar interests…?" he couldn't help but mutter as he thought of a person in the same profession that had eluded the authorities even before he had the thirst for blood. "He wants me to resume my work?" glancing at the bedside table, he found a familiar object and played with it in his hands. This was a set of knives that was neatly rolled together. These knives were a similar set that baffled investigators when they initially found his victims.

He used several types of knives so there were already a number of victims before anyone could figure out that it was done by only one person. This was how he got the nickname 'Knives'.

"Its good that this person doesn't or hasn't asked for anything from me just yet. It gives me time to settle some scores…" he grinned as he turned on the worn-out computer that was placed in the corner of the room to look for a specific people that were the cause of his downfall.

-

A few days later, at Sacred Forest Academy, Kouzuki Kazuya was having yet another argument with the homeroom teacher of class 2-B. He was being questioned about his disappearance after he was specifically asked to meet up with Hamasaki Hikaru after the last time he attended school.

"I had no choice in the matter. I was instructed to meet with a person that I wouldn't normally meet under normal circumstances. That person is very busy so I had no choice but to follow their schedules." He calmly replied.

"Is that your excuse? Is that how famous personalities such as yourself excuse yourselves nowadays?" Hikaru had no intention of backing down. She originally intended to give this boy a chance and get to know him better but she ended up getting slapped in the face.

"I really had no choice in the matter so I apologize if I offended you by doing that." Kazuya tried to sincerely apologize but Hikaru didn't buy it. She was too used to people that had some kind of backing and they would always have two faces to them.

"I don't buy it. I heard from the staff that you are one who doesn't listen in class and even snaps on teachers who try to fix your demeanor in class." Hikaru took the chance to scold him for the other teachers' grievances as well. Though she ignored the part where they told her that it was better than Kazuya taking advantage of his privileges and not show up at school at all like most of the other members of S class.

"I see…" Kazuya was annoyed. He was no longer the Kouzuki Kazuya of his first life. If he was asked the question; what do you think changed? The answer would be that he was no longer the nice and naïve version of himself who would have apologized and nodded his head to almost everything just because it sounded right. "So, I take it that you are nitpicking and picking on me?" he looked straight at Hikaru's eyes.

"You…" she didn't think that he would reply that way. She was already warned not to mess with him because those who have tried have failed.

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"If you're really going this continue pursuing this after I explained my circumstances and apologized, then let me enlighten you on a few things. One, as a member of S class, it is part of our privileges to come and leave as we please unless attendance is mandatory. Two, I did not have to explain myself to anyone other than the person in charge of the middle school department if they do so ask about why I left early. Three, though I do my own thing in most of the classes, I do not disrupt the class and even help the students who approach me and ask for help. Four, I do not know what I have done to deserve this kind of treatment but most of the class members have already asked if I did something to offend you. I haven't met you before outside of this school so I really am curious as to why you are so eager on making trouble for me." Kazuya wasn't the type of person to hold back like he used to but he still did not mention a few things because he still had not understood why this woman had been persistent in going against him.

"I…" Hikaru's mind was drawing blanks as she understood why the teachers warned her about getting into verbal arguments with him. They warned her to never try unless there was irrefutable proof that this kid was wrong.

"Since this is the way I'm going to be treated here, I will just spend my time in here in another area if I come here." Kazuya went to his desk and recovered his things intending to leave the class. Hikaru was surprised to see that it wasn't only Kazuya. Takaya, Maron and the recently returned Kurumi also prepared to leave.

*rustle rustle* Tomoyo also started preparing after blanking out.

"You, stay here."

*Shake, shake* The robot girl's reaction shocked Hikaru even more because she had gotten along with this girl as well.

"Don't be stubborn. You are a member of this class. We'll meet up during break time alright?" Kazuya made her give a reluctant nod as he left the room without glancing at Hikaru who was just starting to regret her actions. She didn't expect things to escalate this far.

"So where are we headed?" Takaya grinned at him after they got some distance from the classroom.

"We?" Kazuya halted his steps and looked back at Kurumi and Maron who were following them.

"Hmph! Don't get full of yourself. You were the main reason we attended that class in the first place." Maron glared at him.

"I know." Kazuya nodded. "I'll let you two walk on ahead" Kazuya didn't want to argue with her so he decided to let them go on before his conversation with Takaya went any further.

"Umm… Can I talk to you Kazuykun?" Kurumi fidgeted and nervously asked.

"…" Kazuya finally took a good look at her and wondered if she was going to try and convince him to agree to her proposal like last time.

"D-don't worry. It will not be a confession…" her face flushed as soon as she said that. Kurumi was a little relieved to find his expression to lose a bit of vigilance after she said that.

"What is it about then?" Kazuya was a little curious about what was going on in this girl's head because even though he belonged to a well-established family himself, he couldn't get a good grasp of her way of thinking.

"I apologize for not thinking about you when I confessed. I realized that I have been selfish all this time." Kurumi's trembled and fought hard to hold back her tears.

"(This is a bit unexpected… Did Jonson-san finally educate his daughter properly?)" Kazuya wondered.

"I would still like to be your friend if it's possible… Not the you who lost your memories but the you now." She finally looked at him straight in the eye. Her expression both anxious and a little expectant which Kazuya found strangely familiar.

"(Are the memories I lost reacting towards this girl?)" Kazuya felt strange. For a moment, a younger version of this weird girl's face just flashed by his mind to overlap with the current her. He didn't know what it was, but he always felt that he had always been unexpectedly tolerant towards this girl for some reason. Even his old self didn't get mad at her as much as he did with Tomoyo no matter how much trouble she caused him.

"I also want to apologize for the trouble I've caused." Kurumi bowed sincerely missing the surprised expression she was always looking for when she followed him secretly. While she was a little happy that he was sensitive towards her presence, she always wondered what kind of surprised expression her Kkun would make when she was able to catch him off-guard. Today, she missed it.

"(Sorry Ku-chan but looks like I ended up being the one that benefitted.)" Maron grinned as she was able to see it.

What both of them didn't know was that Kazuya was surprised not because of the apology itself but how it was delivered. He always wanted to receive an apology from this girl for all the trouble she caused him in his previous life. The her now was the version of Stockton Kurumi that was fresh in his mind because she was at the age she caused him all kinds of trouble.

Kazuya didn't want an apology from the Tomoyo of his past life. He was now aware that it was not even right to get back at her. Kurumi was different, this girl was selfish but was unaware of the trouble she caused him. What he wanted from this girl was an apology which was different from what he originally wanted from Lee and Tomoyo. He had never really considered this girl as an enemy because he knew that they most likely would have ended up being friends if she were just a normal person like his past self.

"I see…" Kazuya himself didn't believe it but all it took was a simple apology for him to lose all prejudices from this girl. He was already aware that everyone in this lifetime was already not the same person from his previous one but after what experiencing what he has, no one knew how hard it was to change the impressions that was embedded into his soul.

"Does that mean…?" Kurumi didn't dare assume what he was trying to say and looked at him with a hopeful expression. Kazuya already went back to his neutral expression so she didn't realize how her apology affected him.

"I forgive—"he was cut off as he was hugged by the weird girl who couldn't hold her sobs in anymore. He didn't know how to conform her so he instead gave her a pat that he usually gave Tomoyo. What he didn't know was that this was something she had been waiting to feel once more for the longest time.

"(Will I react in the same way if 'those' people sincerely apologize?)" Kazuya couldn't help but wonder as he looked at the girl who didn't care about the attention they were already gathering since they were still in the hallways just outside the classrooms.

What Kazuya wasn't aware of however was the thoughts that were currently in Kurumi's mind.

"(Uncle Shishio is wise. I have to thank him since I was finally able to become friends with Kazuykun again.)"

.

Chapter end